Coaching with NLP For Dummies®

Losing Track of Time

Managing the time within each session is an important way for you to create structure for your clients. Establishing a definite start and finish time sets the parameters in which coaching is most effective.

As part of your initial contracting (see Chapter 3), you have the opportunity to emphasise that both you and your client are responsible for arriving on time. Agree the implications if the client is late upfront.

During the session, you as coach are responsible for managing the time to give the client the greatest value. Doing so means you establish a focus for the session after some initial exploration as well as allow time for an elegant closure, rather than an abrupt ‘Okay, time's up now!’

Have a structure for the session planned, such as a mind map that guides you from time for the introductory niceties and opening questions through time to coach the topic and time for action-planning and then closure, including diary and payment administration. With telephone coaching, you can check the time as you go along. With face to face coaching, sit facing a clock on the wall or have a watch on the table in front of you to keep an eye on the time without the need to look at a watch on your wrist.